Submit a comment
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is canceling 83% of USAID programs, while the administration cuts inappropriate spending.
"After six weeks of deliberation, we are officially canceling 83% of USAID's programs. The 5,200 previously canceled contracts spent tens of billions of dollars without serving (and in some cases harming) America's core national interests," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on social network X on March 10.
Mr Rubio added that the remaining 1,000 USAID programs would be managed by the State Department, a further blow to USAID after most of its staff were suspended or fired since January.
The US Secretary of State also thanked billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Mr. Musk responded that streamlining USAID was "difficult but necessary."
In January, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order freezing all US foreign aid for 90 days to allow time to review overseas spending. USAID was one of the agencies most aggressively targeted by the President and DOGE.
Mr. Trump and his allies argue that foreign aid is wasteful and does not serve the country’s interests. But opponents say it largely supports U.S. interests by promoting stability and improving health care abroad.
TB (summary)